Stack-forming conveyor device for data cards



HANS-DIEDRICH BEUCK 3,306,609 STACK-FORMING CONVEYOR DEVICE FOR DATACARDS Filed Feb. 24, 1965 Feb. 28, 1967 I5 Sheets-Sheet 1 Fig.1

28, 1967 HANS-DIEDRICH BEUCIK 3,306, 09

STACK-FORMING CONVEYOR DEVICE FOR DATA CARDS Filed Feb. 24, 1965 3Sheets -Sheet 2 Fig.2

1967 HANS-DIEDRICH BEUCK 3,30

STACK-FORMING CONVEYOR DEVICE FOR DATA CARDS Filed Feb. 24, 1965 3Sheets-Sheet 5 3,306,609 STACK-FORMING CONVEYOR DEVICE FOR DATA CARDSHans-Diedrich Beuck, Munich, Germany, asslgnor to Siemens & HalskeAktiengesellschaft, Berlin, Germany, a corporation of Germany Filed Feb.24, 1965, Ser. No. 434,985

Claims priority, application Germany, Feb. 24, 1964,

Claims. (Cl. 27171) My invention relates to devices for conveying and.stacking of card-shaped data carriers which arrive in a sequence andare to be stacked onto one another in a lay-off compartment, collectingbox or the like.

In data processing equipment operating with punched cards or othercard-shaped data carriers, there is the problem of reliably placing suchdata carriers without damage into the lay-off compartment despite thefact that the cards are being conveyed to the lay-ofif location at ahigh travelling speed. Simply decelerating the travelling cards shortlybefore they arrive at the lay-ofl location does not solve the problem.This is because, for highest operating speed of the equipment at a givenconveying speed of the cards, the distance between the successive cardsmust be kept small, but then the cards hit against the deceleratedpreceding cards thus causing damage to the cards, or clogging and otherfaulty operation.

To avoid such trouble, it has become known from US. Patent No.3,223,409, to E. Eissfeld et al., to pro vide a conveying and stackingdevice for data cards with means for deflecting the cards out of theplane of arrival onto the stack or lay-off location, these deflectingmeans comprising two stack-forming rollers whose respective axes extendsubstantially parallel to the lateral sides of the card-travel path andwhich rotate in mutually opposed directions. The two rollers areprovided with longitudinal slots extending along the peripheral surfacesand following each other around the periphery. Each arriving card runsinto one of the slots of each roller and is then deflected downward byrotation of the two rollers. Each subsequently arriving card enters intoanother slot of each roller. In this manner the cards are reliablystacked without the danger that the leading edge 7 of the card may abutagainst the rear edge of the preceding card. In a preferred embodimentof this device, each slot is provided with braking means fordecelerating the cards as they pass through the stacking rollers. Thewalls of the slots run slightly askew, for example helically, so that acard shooting into a slot is guided on its entire s-lot path in parallelrelation to the axes of the stacking rollers and substantially at theheight of these axes, thus affording the assurance that each card isheld on both sides along the full axial length of the slots.

The present invention more particularly relates to a stack-formingcard-conveying device of the latter type and has for its main object toimprove such devices so as to afford the possibility of varying andadjusting the helical pitch or inclination of the slot walls on thestacking rollers for adaptation to a particular card travel speed and/orto the rotating speed of the stacking rollers.

Another object of my invention, relating to stack-forming conveyingdevices of the above-mentioned type, is to simplify and improve themanufacture of the stacking rollers and to secure a more reliablefrictional braking action for decelerating the cards as they reach theend of their travel in the slots of the stacking rollers.

To achieve these objects, and in accordance with one of the features ofmy invention, I provide each of the two parallel stacking rollers of thecard conveying device with an axially elongated roller body and with anumber of elongated bars which extend lengthwise of the body so as nitedStates Patent 0 to form respective lateral walls of the above-mentionedguide slots, each bar having an elastically yieldable portion of therear end relative to the card travel direction; and the rear endportions of peripherally adjacent bars extend toward each other andthereby form a card-decelerating friction brake. Furthermore, each baris fastened to the roller body at only two localities, namely at thefront end and the above-mentioned rear end portion respectively.

The above-mentioned and further objects, advantages and features of myinvention, said features being set forth with particularity in theclaims annexed hereto, will be apparent from, and will be described in,the following with reference to embodiments of devices according to theinvention illustrated by way of example on the accompanying drawings, inwhich:

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a card-stacking conveyor device, shownpartly schematically.

FIG. 2 is an axial section of a stacking roller; and FIG. 2a shows aperspective view of a detail corresponding to FIG. 2.

FIG. 3 is an exploded perspective view of a different, partiallyillustrated stacking roller; and

FIG. 4 is an axial section of the stacking roller according to FIG. 3.

The device shown in FIG. 1 corresponds to the one illustrated in FIG. 5of the above-mentioned patent (Serial No. 256,171); and it appearshelpful to first describe this device, since devices according to theinvention may have fundamentally the same design and performance withthe exception of the features relating to the appertaining two stackingrollers which are to be modified as exemplified by the embodiments shownin FIGS. 2, 2a and FIGS. 3, 4 respectively.

- Referring to FIG. 1, the data card 1 arrives from the right atrelatively high conveying speed, being driven by a pair of pinch rollers3 rotating at the peripheral speed It so as to enter between twostacking rollers 10 whose respective axes are parallel to each other andto the card travel path. At the arrival moment of the card 1, two of thelongitudinal slots of the respective rollers 10 are located oppositeeach other and are engaged by the respective longitudinal edges of thetravelling card 1. Braking means at the ends of the slots 11, consistingof pairs of leaf springs 15 pressing against each other, decelerate thecards as they enter between the leaf springs. The two stacking rollers10 rotate in mutually opposed directions and displace the card 1downwardly as soon as it has entered into the respective slots. The cardthen drops out of the slots into a lay-off magazine. To secure asatisfactory release of the decelerated cards from the stacking rollers10 and to prevent edging of the cards due to non-simultaneous release ofthe cards from the leaf springs 15, the device is provided with aninclined guide sheet 16 spaced forward from the stacking rollers andlocated approximately at the height of their axes. The front edge ofeach arriving card 1 hits against the inclined guide sheet .16 and isthereby deflected downwardly so that it enters between the side Walls 18of the magazine before the rear end of the card is released from thestacking rollers 10. For obtaining a properly aligned stack of cards,the device is provided with another driven roller 17 which, when thereleased card drops upon it, drives the card forward until the frontedge of the card abuts against the front 'wall 19 of the magazine.

According to the embodiment of the invention exemplified in FIGS. 2 and20, each stacking roller 10 (FIG. 1) comprises a tubular roller body 20which is closed by a massive disc 21 at its front end, this being theaxial end at which the card first arrives. The roller body isconcentrically mounted on a drive shaft 22. The front disc 21 of theroller has on the card-entering side an annular groove 23 concentric tothe axis of the shaft 22. The roller is further provided with a numberof bars consisting for example of spring steel. These bars formrespective lateral walls of the above-mentioned card-guiding grooves 11.As shown in FIG. 2, the front portion of each bar 24 is curved to aU-shaped configuration. The shorter U-leg forms the front end of theentire bar and is inserted into the above-mentioned annular recess 23and fastened therein by a casting consisting, for example, of solder orcementing material.

The bars 24 extend on edge along the outer periphery of the rotor bodyso as to form the slots 11 between each other. Along the major portionof its length, each bar has an elongated, rectangular cross sectionstanding on edge; that is, the longitudinal dimension of the crosssection extends radially with respect to the roller body. At the rearend, the upright cross section merges gradually with a broad and flatcross section. The flat rear ends of the bars are elastically in contactwith each other in a peripheral succession concentric to the axis of therotor body. As long as no card enters between two adjacent rear ends,these ends will touch or substantially touch each other, but atravelling card will force the ends apart and thus be subjected tobraking friction. To stabilize the localities of the fiat rear ends 24a,particularly with respect to excessive tangential displacements, thetubular body 20 of the roller is provided with pins 25 at a fewangularly spaced localities. The pins 25 protrude in the radiallyoutward direction and pass through respective bores 26 in the broad andflat rear ends of the respective bars 24. The bores 26 have a largerdiameter than the pins to provide for some clearance.

The bars 24 preferably consist of a single integral body inclusive oftheir front and rear ends. The material of the bars is sufficientlyelastic and is so pretensioned that the bars have the tendency to placethemselves radially against the tubular body 20 of the roller. As aresult, the rear ends of the bars 24 normally will touch each other in aperipheral succession, and at each point of engagement there obtains anelastical force in the tangential direction. This force is available asfrictional force for decelerating a card penetrating between the twoadjacent rear ends 24a.

By selecting the angular position of the tubular body 20 relative to thedisc 21, the bars 24 can be given a desired inclined position along ahelical line. The tubular body 20 and the disc 21 are then to be fixedto each other in the selected angular relationship, for example by meansof a set screw (not shown) passing radially through the wall of thetubular body 20 into the disc 21. The angular position corresponding toa desired slight helical pitch may be adjusted by the manufacturer inaccordance with particular data processing equipment with which the cardconveying and stacking device is to be used, this position to be thenpermanently preserved by rigidly joining the tubular body 20 and thedisc 21 together. However, the angular position may also remainadjustable to permit changes in an angular setting during use of theconveying device, for example in conjunction with changes in processingor conveying speed.

The embodiment of the stacking rollers shown in FIGS. 3 and 4 isprovided with bars 27 individually cut and bent from sheet metal andjoined with separately cut and shaped rear end portions 28, alsoconsisting of sheet metal. The tubular body 29 of the stacking roller issubdivided so as to comprise a separate rear portion 30 foraccommodating the rear-end portions 28 of the longitudinal bars 27. Thebars 27 constitute jointly the longitudinal guide slots of the stackingroller. Each bar 27 has a U-shaped cross section open toward the rollerbody. The forward end of each sheet-metal bar, this being the end wherethe card first arrives, is curved to an inwardly extending shape so asto form a hook-like extension 31 which is hung over the edge of thetubular body 29 and abuts against 4 a disc 32' resting against an innerperipheral shoulder of the tubular rotor body 29.

The end portions 28, made of spring metal, are stuck into the rear endsof the bars 27 (FIG. 3a) so that the bars and the end portions 28 lieflush with each other at the junction location to secure a smooth travelof the cards. The end portions 28 are likewise provided with ahook-shaped extension 32 with which they are hung over the edge of theannular body 30 and abut against an inner peripheral shoulder thereof.

The tubular body 29 and the annular body 30 of the stacking rotor arefastened on the roller shaft 22 by means of the above-mentioned disc 32and another terminal disc 33. Respective further discs 34 and 35 aretightened by bolts against the respective discs 32' and 33, thusclamping the hook-shaped extensions of bars 27 and end portions 28,these extensions having a conical or wedge-like shape, against therespective bodies 29 and 30. This is apparent from the section shown inFIG. 3.

The hook-shaped extensions 31 have respective lateral lugs 36 (FIG. 3)which serve as spacers to secure the correct distance from the adjacentbar. Analogously, the proper distance between the resilient end portions28 is secured by having them pairwise interconnected through a bridgingmember 37, each bridge extending over one bar division on the side ofthe hook 32 facing the rotor axls.

By changing the angular position of the ring-shaped body 30 relative tothe tubular body 29, the bars 27 can be given the desired helical pitchin order to utilize the entire height of the bars 27 for guiding thecard edges and utilizing the entire elastic width of the end portions 28for decelerating the cards. The adjusting and fixing of the angularposition is effected in the manner already described with reference toFIGS. 2 and 2a.

To those skilled in the art it will be obvious upon a study of thisdisclosure that my invention permits of various modifications and may begiven embodiments other than particularly illustrated and describedherein, without departing from the essential features of the inventionand within the scope of the claims annexed hereto.

I claim:

1. Conveying device for stacking data cards which arrive in succession,comprising conveying means defining an entering plane for arrivingcards, two parallel stacking rollers of mutually opposed directions ofrotation mounted behind said conveying means along opposite sidesrespectively of the card conveying path in said entering plane, each ofsaid rollers having an axially elongated roller body with peripherallydistributed longitudinal slots engageable by respective lateral edges ofthe cards coming from said conveying means, respective bars extendinglengthwise of said body and forming respective lateral walls of saidslots, said bars having respective elastically yi-elda-ble rear endsextending toward each other and forming a card-decelerating brake andbeing fastened to said roller body at the front and rear ends only, saidbars consisting of springy material and having with the exception ofsaid rear ends, a radially elongated cross section which graduallymerges with a radially flatter and peripherally wider cross section atsaid rear ends, said rear ends being located against each other inperipheral succession on a circle concentric to the axis of said rollerbody.

2. Conveying device for stacking data cards which arrive in succession,comprising conveying means defining an entering plane for arrivingcards, two parallel stack-- ing rollers of mutually opposed directionsof rotation: mounted behind said conveying means along opposite sidesrespectively of the card conveying path in said entering plane, each ofsaid rollers having an axially elongated roller body with peripherallydistributed longitudinal slots engageable by respective lateral edges ofthe cards coming from said conveying means, respective bars I extendinglengthwise of said body and forming respective lateral walls of saidslots, said bars having respective elastically yieldable rear endsextending toward each other and forming a card-decelerating brake andbeing fastened to said roller body at the front and rear ends only, saidroller body having a recessed front portion, said bars having respectiveU-shaped front portions with the shorter U-leg extending in the inwarddirection and forming the front end of said bar, said front ends of saidbars being located and anchored in said recessed front portion of saidroller body.

3. In a data-card conveying device according to claim 1, said flat rearends of said bars having respective openings, radial pins fastened tosaid roller body and extending through said respective openings andhaving a smaller diameter than said openings for limiting tangentialdisplacements of said rear ends of said bars.

4. Conveying device for stacking data cards which arrive in succession,comprising conveying means defining an entering plane for arrivingcards, two parallel stacking rollers of mutually opposed directions ofrotation mounted behind said conveying means along opposite sidesrespectively of the card conveying path in said entering plane, each ofsaid rollers having two coaxially aligned portions jointly forming anaxially elongated roller body and angularly adjustable and fixedlyattachable to each other, bar structures extending along said rollerbody and being peripherally spaced from each other on said body to forminterstitial guide slots engageable by respective lateral edges of thecards coming from said conveying means, each of said bar structureshaving respective end portions secured to said two roller portions,whereby different angular adjustments between said roller portionscorrespond to respectively different amounts of helical pitch of saidguide slots.

5. Conveying device for stacking data cards which arrive in succession,comprising conveying means defining an entering plane for arrivingcards, two parallel stacking rollers of mutually opposed directions ofrotation mounted behind said conveying means along opposite sidesrespectively of the card conveying path in said entering plane, each ofsaid rollers having two coaxially aligned portions jointly forming anaxially elongated roller body and angularly adjustable and fixedlyattachable to each other, bar structures extending along said rollerbody and being peripherally spaced from each other on said body to forminterstitial guide slots engageable by respective lateral edges of thecards coming from said conveying means, said bar structures havingrespective elastically yieldable rear ends extending toward each otherand forming a card-decelerating brake, and said bar structures beingfastened at said respective rear ends to one of said roller portions andat the respective front ends to said other roller portion, wherebydifferent angular adjustments between said roller portions correspond torespectively different amounts of helical pitch of said guide slots.

6. In a data-card conveying device according to claim 5, each of saidbar structures being bifurcated at said rear end and having its two forklegs spread apart into elastic engagement with respective legs of theadjacent bar structures.

7. In a data-card conveying device according to claim 5, each of saidbar structures having hook-shaped extensions at both ends respectively,said extensions having an inwardly and re-entrantly curved shape andbeing in clamping engagement with one of said respective rollerportions.

8. In a data-card conveying device according to claim 5, each of saidbar structures having lateral extensions engageable with respectiveadjacent bar structures and forming spacers for holding said barstructures peripherally positioned relative to each other.

9. In a data-card conveying device according to claim 7, saidhook-shaped extensions having lateral lugs engageable with respectiveadjacent bar structures and forming spacers for holding said barstructures peripherally positioned relative to each other.

10. Conveying device for stacking data cards which arrive in succession,comprising conveying means defining an entering plane for arrivingcards, two parallel stacking rollers of mutually opposed directions ofrotation mounted behind said conveying means along opposite sidesrespectively of the card conveying path in said entering plane, each ofsaid rollers having two coaxially aligned portions jointly forming anaxially elongated roller body and angularly adjustable and fixedlyattachable to each other, bar structures extending along said rollerbody and being peripherally spaced from each other on said body to forminterstitial guide slots engageable by respective lateral edges of thecards coming from said conveying means, bifurcated end members shorterthan said bar structures and articulately linked with said respectivebar structures to form the rear end portions thereof, each of saidmembers having two fork legs spread apart into elastic engagement withrespective legs of the adjacent bar structures, the extremities of saidlegs being fastened to one of said roller portions and the opposite endsof said bar structures being fastened to said other roller portion,whereby different angular adjustments between said roller portionscorrespond to a respectively different amount of helical pitch of saidguide slots.

References Cited by the Examiner UNITED STATES PATENTS 3,223,409 12/1965Eissfeld et al. 271-71 M. H ENSON WOOD, JR., Primary Examiner. J. N.ERLICH, Assistant Examiner.

1. CONVEYING DEVICE FOR STACKING DATA CARDS WHICH ARRIVE IN SUCCESSION,COMPRISING CONVEYING MEANS DEFINING AN ENTERING PLANE FOR ARRIVINGCARDS, TWO PARALLEL STACKING ROLLERS OF MUTUALLY OPPOSED DIRECTIONS OFROTATION MOUNTED BEHIND SAID CONVEYING MEANS ALONG OPPOSITE SIDESRESPECTIVELY OF THE CARD CONVEYING PATH IN SAID ENTERING PLANE, EACH OFSAID ROLLERS HAVING AN AXIALLY ELONGATED ROLLER BODY WITH PERIPHERALLYDISTRIBUTED LONGITUDINAL SLOTS ENGAGEABLE BY RESPECTIVE LATERAL EDGES OFTHE CARDS COMING FROM SAID CONVEYING MEANS, RESPECTIVE BARS EXTENDINGLENGTHWISE OF SAID BODY AND FORMING RESPECTIVE LATERAL WALLS OF SAIDSLOTS, SAID BARS HAVING RESPECTIVE ELASTICALLY YIELDABLE REAR ENDSEXTENDING TOWARD EACH OTHER AND FORMING A CARD-DECELERATING BRAKE ANDBEING FASTENED TO SAID ROLLER BODY AT THE FRONT AND REAR ENDS ONLY, SAIDBARS CONSISTING OF SPRINGY MATERIAL AND HAVING WITH THE EXCEPTION OFSAID REAR ENDS, A RADIALLY ELONGATED CROSS SECTION WHICH GRADUALLYMERGES WITH A RADIALLY FLATTER AND PERIPHERALLY WIDER CROSS SECTION ATSAID REAR ENDS, SAID REAR ENDS BEING LOCATED AGAINST EACH OTHER INPERIPHERAL SUCCESSION ON A CIRCLE CONCENTRIC TO THE AXIS OF SAID ROLLERBODY.